Device and method for applying a marking to a knitted garment, such as tights or the like

ABSTRACT

A device method for applying a marking to a knitted garment (T) with a body equipped with a waistband, such as tights or the like. The device comprises a marking element ( 59 ) and engaging elements ( 41, 42 ) for the waistband of the garment, which engage a portion of the waistband and cause it to partially overturn, exposing the internal surface of the waistband to said marking element.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a device for applying a marking to aknitted garment, such as and in particular tights or another garmentwith a body and possibly two legs.

The invention also relates to a method for applying a marking to agarment of the aforesaid type.

STATE OF THE ART

In the production of knitted garments such as tights or similargarments, including a body having an elastic waistband, a high degree ofautomation has currently been achieved. Normally, to manufacture tightstwo tubular semi-finished knitted products are produced on circularknitting machines. These two semi-finished products are then connectedto each other by partially cutting their initial portion in proximity tothe waistband. The product thereby obtained is subjected to dyeing,inspection to check that there are no defects, a setting phase and thenpackaging. The incidence of labour in this type of processing isrelatively limited. The current tendency is towards increased automationand a progressive decrease in the incidence of labour, in view of theneed to reduce the cost of the finished product.

In the production of articles of manufacture and garments of this type,in particular in the manufacture of tights, it would be convenient forthe finished to be provided with a marking which does not alter theaesthetic appearance of the garment. The marking would, for example, beuseful to distinguish an original product from a counterfeit product.However, the application of marking should not adversely affect the costof the finished product.

Currently there are no known methods or devices capable of applying, inan entirely automatic way and without the use of labour, markings ofthis type to knitted garments, such as tights or the like, in a positionthat is not visible when the garment is worn.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first object of the present invention is to produce a method whereby amarking is applied automatically and without the use of labour on agarment of this type.

This and other objects and advantages, which shall be apparent to thoseskilled in the art by reading the text hereunder, are attained insubstance with a method whereby said marking is applied on the inside ofsaid garment, in proximity to the waistband of the garment.

According to a particular advantageous embodiment of the invention, themethod uses a heat-transfer procedure to apply the marking.

To correctly apply the marking, for example the transfer, in aparticularly advantageous embodiment of the invention the methodincludes the following steps:

-   -   inserting the garment on a template;    -   raising a portion of the waistband of the garment from the        template;    -   applying the marking to the internal surface of the garment at        the raised portion of waistband;    -   removing the garment from the template.

Advantageously, the template may be a setting template, of the typenormally used to finish tights or similar knitted manufactured products.Ironing machines equipped with templates that may be utilized for thispurpose are known and described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,371and in British patent application number 2.131.465. By applying themarking when the garment is inserted on the setting template anextremely accurate and clean marking is attained, during a phase whichis in any case present in the production cycle, and therefore with noincrease in the production cost of the manufactured product.

According to a possible and advantageous embodiment of the invention,the method includes the phases of: positioning a pair of clamps next tosaid template; translating the clamps along said template to interceptthe waistband of the garment; engaging the waistband of the garment withsaid clamps; moving the clamps away from the template, to detach aportion of the waistband of the garment from it; partially overturningsaid portion of waistband around a section over which the waistband ispulled by said clamps; applying the marking to said portion ofwaistband; releasing the waistband of the garment.

A further object of the present invention is to produce a device toapply a marking to a knitted garment, of the type comprising a body andpossibly two leg portions, for example tights or the like.Characteristically, according to the invention, this object is attainedwith a device comprising elements to engage the waistband of thegarment, which engage a portion of the waistband of the garment andcause it to partially overturn, exposing the internal surface of thewaistband to a marking element.

In a possible and advantageous embodiment of the invention, the markingelement is a heat transfer element for a transfer, and comprises aheated pad co-acting with a pressing surface.

In a possible embodiment the engaging elements comprise a pair of clampswhich grasp the waistband of the garment in two spaced out points tooverturn it partially. To attain partial overturning of a portion of thewaistband of the garment between the points in which it is gripped bythe clamps a section is provided positioned between the two clamps,around which the portion of waistband of the garment engaged betweensaid clamps is at least partially overturned through relative movementbetween the section and the clamps.

To attain a particularly compact device, the section positioned betweenthe clamps is associated with the pressing surface with which the heatedpad of the marking element cooperates. Advantageously, the section andthe pressing surface may be produced from a single component.

To attain an effective grip on the waistband of the garment withoutdamaging it, each of the clamps may advantageously comprise a firstengaging element for the waistband of the garment and a second engagingelement, which may be constituted by a cylinder or other insert inelastomeric material, against which the garment is pressed by the firstengaging element.

Further advantageous characteristics and embodiments of the method andof the device according to the invention are indicated in the attacheddependent claims and shall be further described with reference to apreferred although non-limiting example of embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The finding shall now be better understood by following the descriptionand attached drawing, which shows a non-limiting practical embodiment ofthe invention. More particularly, in the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows an overall side view and partial section of the deviceaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a view according to II-II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a clamp;

FIG. 4 shows a bottom view according to IV-IV in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a section according to a vertical plane of the assemblycarrying the clamps and the marking element in the initial position ofthe marking cycle, after engaging the waistband of the garment insertedon the setting template;

FIG. 5A shows the same section as FIG. 5, in a phase immediatelysubsequent to the one shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 shows a view according to VI-VI in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a section according to VII-VII in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 shows a side view of the clamps in the closed position, whichthey adopt in the phase subsequent to the one shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7;

FIG. 9 shows a section analogous to the section in FIG. 5 in a positionin which the clamps are moved back in relation to the pressing templateto perform partial overturning of a waistband portion of the garment;

FIG. 10 shows a view according to X-X in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows a section according to XI-XI in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 shows a section analogous to the section in FIG. 9 in asubsequent phase of the marking cycle;

FIG. 13 shows a view according to XIII-XIII in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 shows a section according to XIV-XIV in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 shows a section analogous to the section in FIG. 12 in asubsequent phase of the marking cycle;

FIG. 16 shows a view according to XVI-XVI in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 shows a section according to XVII-XVII in FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 shows a section analogous to the section in FIG. 15 in anothersubsequent phase of the marking cycle;

FIG. 19 shows a view according to XIX-XIX in FIG. 18; and

FIG. 20 shows a section according to XX-XX in FIG. 18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The device, indicated as a whole with 1, is shown fully in FIG. 1. It ispositioned at a station of a machine to finish tights, for example amachine of the type disclosed in one of the patents quoted hereinbefore.These machines are of a per se known type and are not illustratedherein. FIG. 1 shows solely and schematically a setting template,indicated with S, on which a garment is inserted on the waistband ofwhich the marking or transfer is to be applied.

The device 1 is positioned adjacent to one of the positions in which thesetting templates S stop to interact with the garment inserted on thetemplate S which each time stops in the position in which the device 1is positioned.

The device 1 comprises, on a base 3, an upright 5, extending along whichare two guides 7 and 9 for corresponding runners 11 and 13. The runners11, 13 are integral with a moving unit 15 designed to translatevertically according to the double arrow f15 along the upright 5. Thevertical movement of the moving unit 15 is controlled by means of amotor 17 and a threaded bar 19 on which a nut screw 21, integral withthe moving unit, engages.

The moving unit 15 carries an assembly 23 which comprises, as shall bedescribed in greater detail hereunder, engaging elements for thewaistband of the garment inserted on the setting template S, and amarking element and pressing or contrast surface for said markingelement. The assembly 23 is provided as a whole with a movement to movenear to and move away from the setting template S maintaining the unit15 at a standstill. This moving near to and moving away from movement iscontrolled by a piston-cylinder actuator 25 integral with a plate 27which forms the main body of the moving unit 15 and with which therunners 11, 13 are also integral. From the position shown in FIG. 1 theassembly 23 may be moved close to the setting template S withouttranslating the moving unit 15 vertically, by extending thepiston-cylinder actuator 25. In this movement, the assembly 23 is guidedby a runner 28 integral with it and sliding along a guide 30 integralwith the plate 27.

The assembly 23 comprises the engaging elements for the waistband of thegarment inserted on the setting template S. As shown in particular inFIGS. 3 and 4, the engaging elements comprise a pair of clamps 37carried by a slide 33 integral with a guide 35 sliding in a runner 37which is part of the assembly 23 and anchored to a plate 39 rigidlyanchored to the rod of the piston-cylinder actuator 25 which controlsthe moving near to and moving away from movement of the assembly 23 inrelation to the setting template S in the direction f23.

Each clamp 31 comprises a first element 41 to engage with the waistbandof the garment, equipped with an idle roller 42. Each element 41 has apointed form to be inserted easily between the surface of the settingtemplate S and the garment inserted on this. The first element 41 withthe respective roller 42 of each clamp 31 is positioned against thesetting template S when the assembly 23 is moved towards the settingtemplate S controlled by the actuator 25.

The first element 41 cooperates with a second element 43 with which eachclamp 31 is equipped. This second element 43 is constituted by an insertin relatively soft elastomeric material, for example in the form of asmall cylinder, with the purpose of holding the waistband of the garmentwhen the clamp closes without damaging the garment. The opening andclosing movement of each clamp is controlled by a respective actuator 45anchored to a slider on which the first element 41 of the clamp isformed.

The clamps are anchored to a common slide 47, running along guides 49.The slide 47 runs along the guides 49 controlled by a piston-cylinderactuator 51 mounted on the slide 33. The number 53 indicates anadjustable stop which defines the limit stop position of the slide 47and therefore of the clamps anchored to it. Positioned between the twoclamps 31 is a section 55 rounded at the front and which forms at thebottom a seat for an insert in elastomeric material 57 with a flatsurface, which forms a pressing surface or contrast surface for a heatedpad 59 which constitutes the actual marking element. The section 55 andthe insert in elastomeric material 57 are integral with the plate 39.

Also anchored to the plate 39 is a cylinder 60 of a piston-cylinderactuator 61 which controls, as shall be explained hereunder, themovements of the various elements of the assembly 23 in a directioncoinciding with the direction f23 of movement of the assembly as a wholein relation to the setting template S. The rod 63 of the piston-cylinderactuator 61 is connected, by means of interposition of a compressionspring 65, to a slider 67 running in relation to the plate 39 accordingto the arrow f67, guided in bushings 68 by means of guide bars 70.

Integral with the slide 33 is a guide bar 69 around which a compressionspring 71 is arranged, which reacts between the slide 33 and a spacer 73inserted around the guide bar 69 and resting on the slider 67, which hasa hole through which the bar 69 passes. At the lower end of the bar 69is a stop 74, against which the slider 67 rests through the effect ofthe compression spring 71.

The plate 39, with which the cylinder 60 of the piston-cylinder actuator61 is integral, forms a stop 75 against which the slide 33 stops when itis thrust by the piston-cylinder actuator 61 through the restraintformed between the slide 33 and the rod 63 of the actuator 61 by theslider 67, the spacer 73 and the spring 71. Extension of the actuator 61therefore causes, as a first effect, a movement of the slider 67 and ofthe slide 33 with the elements connected to it, namely the guides 49,the slide 47, the actuator 51 and the clamps 31.

Connected to the slider 67 are two guide bushings 81 inside which twoguide bars 83 are engaged slidingly, around which compression springs 85are positioned. The compression springs 85 react between the slider 67and a crosspiece 89 integral with the guide bars 83 and carrying fouridle guide rollers 91, 92, 93 and 94 for a strip N bearing the transfersto be transferred onto the garment. The strip N is unwound from a rollR1 and rewound on a roll R2 of spent strip. The two rolls are carried bythe plate 27 forming the main body of the moving unit 15 and thereforefollow its movement. Along the path for unwinding from the roll R1 andrewinding on the roll R2 the strip N passes through a sensor 98 whichreads references produced on the strip to position the various transfersat the transfer element. The sensor 98, for example an optical sensor,thereby causes a motor 96 to start and stop, to unwind the strip N fromthe roll R1 and rewind it on the roll R2, to have said strip perform astep, corresponding to the marking or transfer, for each garment to bemarked.

The rollers 92 and 93 carried by the crosspiece 89 are positionedagainst two surfaces 97 integral with the slide 33 and movable with it.The piston-cylinder actuator 61 causes, as it continues in its travelbeyond the position in which the slide 33 comes into contact with thestop 75, the movement of the crosspiece 89 towards the contact surfaces97 to cause the strip N to be clamped against these surfaces.

Integral with the slider 67 are uprights 101 connected rigidly to theheated pad 59. This pad is heated internally by means of an electricalresistor, not shown. It is positioned against the elastomeric insert 57which remains fixed in relation to the bracket or plate 39 during theentire movement of the remaining elements controlled by thepiston-cylinder actuator 61. The compression spring 65 positionedbetween the slider 67 and a stop 109 integral with the rod 63 of thepiston-cylinder actuator 61 makes the pressure of the pad 59 against thesurface defined by the insert 57 gradual. The compression springs 85allow the slider 67 to be raised above the stop position of thecrosspiece 89 to carry the heated pad 59 to be positioned against thepressure surface defined by the elastomeric insert 57.

The device described hereinbefore performs, for each garment to bemarked, a cycle described hereunder with reference to the sequence ofpositions shown in the FIGS. 5 to 20. The garment T is shown only in afew of the figures for greater clarity of the drawing.

Starting from the position shown in FIG. 1, in which the clamps 31 arein a position detached in relation to the setting template S, theassembly 23 is made to advance according to the arrow f23 to carry theclamps 31 to be positioned against the template, in a position below theposition of the waistband of the garment inserted on the settingtemplate. The moving unit 15 is then gradually raised according to thearrow f15 to intercept the waistband B of the garment, indicated with Iin FIG. 5, with the clamps 31. In order to check when the clamps 31reach the garment I and are inserted under the waistband B thereof, asensor, for example an optical sensor, schematically indicated with 24,is associated with the assembly 23. The sensor comprises an emitter anda receiver and detects the presence of the garment I thanks to the factthat the optical signal emitted by the transmitter is no longerreflected by the at least partially reflecting surface of the settingtemplate S. As the sensor 24 is positioned above the clamps 31, theraising movement of the moving unit 15 is not stopped immediately afterdetection of the garment by the sensor 24, but this movement continuesfor an amount sufficient to guarantee insertion of the clamps 31, ormore specifically of the element 41 of the clamps, under the waistband Bof the garment. The raising movement of the moving unit 15 terminateswhen the unit 23 has adopted, in relation to the garment inserted on thetemplate S, the position shown in FIG. 5. The various elements andmechanical parts of the assembly 23 are in the position shown in FIGS.5, 6 and 7 with the piston-cylinder actuator 61 fully withdrawn.

At this point the waistband B of the garment I is engaged by the clamps31 by means of a closing movement of the clamps controlled by therespective actuators 45. The clamps close to adopt the position shown inFIG. 5A.

By keeping the moving unit 15 always in the same position, thesubsequent movement is the one to move the portion of the elasticwaistband B of the garment I away from the setting template S. Thismovement is attained by means of the actuator 51 which makes the slide47, and consequently the clamps integral with it, move away. With thismovement the clamps adopt the position shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Theportion of the waistband B of the garment I engaged between the twoclamps 31 is moved away from the setting template S and drawn under thesurface formed by the insert 57, with partial overturning of thisportion of waistband around the section 55. In this way the internalsurface of the portion of waistband B held between the two clamps isexposed towards the heated pad 59 below, and the transfer is applied toit in the manner described hereunder.

The subsequent gradual raising movement of the elements of the assembly23 by means of the piston-cylinder actuator 61 causes the clamps to moveaway upwards in relation to the pressing surface defined by the insert57, clamping of the strip N carrying the transfers and pressure of theheated pad 59 against the pressing surface defined by the insert 57.This movement is shown in the subsequent figures.

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 show a first intermediate position reached by theassembly 23 during extending travel of the piston-cylinder actuator 61.This first stretch of travel causes raising of the slider 67, crosspiece89 and slide 33 and all parts and elements connected rigidly to thesethree components. The raising movement of slide 33 and consequently ofguide 49, actuator 51, clamps 31 and respective actuators to operatethese clamps terminates when the slide 33 is positioned against thesurface 75 integral with the plate 39. This movement removes the clamps31 and relative actuator elements from the pressing surface.

Further extension of the piston-cylinder actuator 61 causes continuationof the travel to raise the slider 67 and the crosspiece 89, this travelbeing made possible by gradual compression of the spring 71. The raisingmovement of the crosspiece 89 terminates when the guide rollers 92 and93 come to rest against the surfaces 97. The position in which theraising movement of the crosspiece 89 stops is shown in FIGS. 15, 16 and17. In this position a stretch of the strip N with the marking to betransferred to the garment remains clamped between the two guide rollers92 and 93.

Compression of the springs 85 allows further raising of the slider 67and of the pad 59 integral with said slider 67. This further raisingtravel terminates when the heated pad 59 is positioned to press againstthe pressing surface defined by the insert 57. The strip N bearing thetransfers is thus pressed by the heated pad 59 against the internalsurface of the overturned portion of the waistband B of the garment I,thereby allowing the transfer to be transferred to the fabric of whichthe garment is formed.

The piston-cylinder actuator 61 may at this point perform a withdrawingtravel to return the elements forming the assembly 23 to the positionshown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11. The actuator 51 and the clamps 31 performthe reverse movement to the one described above and the moving unit 15is lowered, releasing the garment and being positioned for a subsequentmarking cycle.

To allow removal of the setting template S which rotates around avertical axis and which has a certain dimension in a directionorthogonal to the surface in FIG. 1, the assembly 23 is made to moveaway in relation to said template translating on the guides carried bythe plate 27 in the direction of the arrow f23 to remove the clamps 31from the surface of the template.

It is to be understood that the drawing shows only a possiblenon-limiting embodiment of the invention, which may vary in its formsand arrangements without however departing from the scope of the concepton which the invention is based. Any reference numbers in the attachedclaims do not limit the scope of protection whatsoever and are providedfor the sole purpose of facilitating reading in the light of thepreceding description and the attached drawings.

1. Method for applying a marking to a knitted garment with a body havinga waistband, such as tights or the like, characterized in that saidmarking is applied to the inside of said garment, in proximity to saidwaistband.
 2. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that saidmarking is applied with a heat-transfer procedure.
 3. Method as claimedin claim 1, characterized by the following steps: inserting the garmenton a template; raising a portion of the waistband from the template;applying said marking to the internal surface of the garment inproximity to the raised portion of waistband.
 4. Method as claimed inclaim 1, characterized by the following steps: inserting said garment ona setting template; setting said garment on said template; raising aportion of the waistband from the template; applying said marking to theinternal surface of the garment in proximity to the raised portion ofwaistband; removing said garment from the setting template.
 5. Method asclaimed in claim 3, characterized by: positioning a pair of clamps nextto said template; translating the clamps along said template tointercept the waistband of the garment; engaging the waistband of thegarment with said clamps; moving the clamps away from the template, todetach a portion of the waistband of the garment from it; partiallyoverturning said portion of waistband around a section over which thewaistband is pulled by said clamps; applying the marking to said portionof waistband.
 6. A device to apply a marking to a knitted garment with abody having a waistband, such as tights or the like, characterized inthat it comprises a marking element and engaging elements for thewaistband, which engage a portion of the waistband and cause it topartially overturn, exposing the internal surface of the waistband tosaid marking element.
 7. Device as claimed in claim 6, characterized inthat said marking element is a heat transfer element for a transfer,comprising a heated pad 5 cooperating with a pressing surface.
 8. Deviceas claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said engaging elementscomprise a pair of clamps.
 9. Device as claimed in claim 8,characterized in that a section is positioned between said pair ofclamps, around which the portion of waistband of the garment engagedbetween said clamps is at least partially overturned by the relativemovement between said section and said clamps.
 10. Device as claimed inclaim 7, characterized in that said section is associated with saidpressing surface.
 11. Device as claimed in claim 10, characterized inthat said clamps are equipped with a translating movement parallel tosaid pressing surface.
 12. Device as claimed in claim 9, characterizedin that said clamps are equipped with a first closing movementcontrolled by respective closing actuators and a second translatingmovement in relation to said section.
 13. Device as claimed in claim 8,characterized in that each of said clamps comprises a first engagingelement for the waistband of the garment and a second contrast element,the waistband of the garment being clamped between said first and saidsecond element.
 14. Device as claimed in claim 13, characterized in thatsaid second element of each clamp is constituted by a cylinder inelastomeric material.
 15. Device as claimed in claim 6, characterized inthat said engaging elements for the waistband of the garment and saidmarking element are supported by a moving unit along a substantiallyvertical upright.
 16. Device as claimed in claim 7, characterized inthat said unit carries means to support and unwind a strip carrying thetransfers to be transferred to said garment.
 17. Device as claimed inclaim 15, characterized in that the movement of said moving unit alongsaid upright is controlled by a raising and lowering actuator, themovement of which is controlled by a sensor which detects the positionof the waistband of the garment.
 18. Device as claimed in claim 15,characterized in that said moving unit carries an assembly carrying saidengaging elements and said marking element, said assembly being movablein relation to said unit in an inclined direction in relation to thedirection of movement of the unit along the upright.
 19. Device asclaimed in claim 7, characterized in that said assembly carries saidclamps, said section, said pressing surface and said heated pad and atleast a pair of guide rollers for said strip.
 20. Device as claimed inclaim 19, characterized in that at least a first actuator to positionsaid pair of guide rollers against clamping stops of the strip bearingthe transfers and to press the heated pad against the pressing surfaceis associated with said assembly.
 21. Device as claimed in claim 19,characterized in that said assembly comprises a plate to which said atleast one actuator is anchored and running on which are a first slidecarrying said clamps, a second slide carrying said heated pad and guidemeans for a third slide carrying said at least one pair of guiderollers.
 22. Device as claimed in claim 21, characterized in that saidassembly and said first actuator are movable in relation to said movingunit movable along the vertical upright, a second actuator beingprovided to translate said assembly in relation to said moving unit. 23.A finishing machine for knitted garments, such as tights and the like,comprising a carousel with a plurality of setting templates, which aretranslated in sequence along successive work stations, characterized inthat it comprises a device according to claim 6, associated with one ofsaid stations.
 24. A knitted garment comprising a waistband,characterized by a marking applied internally to the garment along itswaistband.
 25. Knitted garment as claimed in claim 24, characterized inthat said marking is a transfer.
 26. Knitted garment as claimed in claim24, characterized in that it is tights.